Automatic control adapter for newsprint paster machines



June '6, 1967 o. T. HEAD, JR 3,323,741

AUTOMATIC CONTROL ADAPTER FOR NEWSPRINT FASTER MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F i /68 g -64 M g l' Tens/an easurm p rg mg Compare/g Re/gy c Control l T i Control V Pasfer Panel 70 Eqmlamem Au/amafic 60 Control Head Fig.2

Obie r. Had, Jr. f v INVENTOR.

Julie 6, 1967 o. T. HEAD, JR 3,323,741

AUTOMATIC CONTROL ADAPTER FOR NEWSPRINT FASTER MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 U Fig. 6

"Iii.v 6 6 'Pf./\' f i A Obie 7? Head, Jr.

| INVENTOR.

/BY 2mm WW 18-Ma I June 6, 1967 o. T. HEAD, JR

AUTOMATIC CONTROL ADAPTER FOR NEWSPRINT FASTER MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet Z Obie 7. Head, Jr

INVENTOR.

BY and you 3% United States Patent 3,323,741 AUTOMATIC CONTROL ADAPTER FOR NEWS- PRINI FASTER MACHINES ()bie T. Head, In, 1143 Noremac Road, Montgomery, Ala. 36109 Filed Aug. 12, 1964, Set. N0. 389,152 13 Claims. (Cl. 242-585) This invention relates to the control of operations for paster apparatus associated with the handling of a continuous web of sheet material such as newsprint paper. More particularly the present invention is concerned with the automation of the replacement of expiring rolls of newsprint paper or other web material by new or full rolls and thereby eliminating the exercise of human control and supervision as well as misjudgment incident thereto.

The system of the present invention is capable of being installed on paster machines presently available in connection with the paper handling facilities of printing presses. In such pasting machines, a plurality of rolls of sheet material or newsprint paper are mounted on a reel, the material being withdrawn from one of the rolls until the roll is almost exhausted at which point, a tail end portion of the web is secured by adhesive to the lead end portion of the sheet material from a new and full roll. Accordingly, the splicing or pasting operation requires that the reel be rotated so as to bring the new roll of paper into pasting position so that it may be engaged by the web being withdrawn from the expiring roll and at the proper time adhesive applied so as to secure the lead end portion of the new roll to the web of the expiring roll. Accordingly, the tail end portion of the expiring roll must be cut off at the proper instant to complete the pasting action after which the new or reserve roll must be further displaced into the normal operating position. Facilities are therefore provided whereby the linear speed of the web may be regulated during the pasting or splicing cycle in order to accommodate the pasting action while the web tension must also be varied accordingly from the normal running condition. Thus, the pasting action is begun only after the web speed and tension have been properly regulated. Once the pasting operation is initiated, adhesive is sprayed on the lead end portion of the new roll and the cutter mechanism previously extended to its operating position, is actuated for out off of the tail end, the pasting operation being timed by an electronic tailmeasuring timer device already available for such purpose. Once the pasting operation is completed, the cutter mechanism is retracted or reset, the power supply for the pasting equipment cut off and the roll carrying reel advanced to a new operating position. Also, the speed and tension of the web is restored to the normal operating condition.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide an automatic control system for pasting machines whereby visual gauging of the expiring roll to start the pasting operation, is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention in accordance with the foregoing objects is to avoid the exercise of human judgment as to when the paster equipment is to be energized.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a control system whereby the linear speed of the web is timely changed for pasting'operation'in order to lower the speed thereof to a preset value and to prevent acceleration of the web from said preset value.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a control system wherein the roll carrying reel is automatically advanced at the proper time without human control so as to move the expiring and new rolls into a pasting position and after the pasting operation, move the reel to a new running position.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a control system wherein human judgment as to when to start the pasting operation by visual gauging of the speed of the new roll, is replaced by automatic operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system which eliminates the necessity for an operator to await retraction of the cutter device in order to shut off the power to the paster equipment, power cut off for the paster equipment being effected automatically.

As a still further object of the present invention, speed control and web tension commensurate with the pasting operation is imposed and removed in an automatic and timely fashion.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the relationship of the automatic control component of the present invention to the other control component associated with existing paster apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the paster apparatus with which the control system of the present invention is associated.

FIGURE 3 is a simplified, schematic diagram of the paster apparatus in operation.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the paster apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4 with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 8-8 in FIG- URE 7.

' FIGURE 9 is an electrical circuit diagram of the automatic control head associated with the system of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a simplified circuit diagram of the existing control'components associated with the existing paster apparatus forming part of the system of the present invention in association with the circuitry illustrated in FIG- URE 9.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 2 and 4 illustrate the'paster apparatus generally referred to by reference numeral 10 with which the automatic control system of the present invention is associated. The paster apparatus is mounted on a frame assembly 12 and includes a roll carrying reel generally referred to by reference numeral 14. The reel is angularly advanced by means of a reel motor 16 geared to the central drive shaft 18 of the reel so as to successively position rolls of newsprint paper 20 in an operating position. In the apparatus illustrated, there are three rolls respectively mounted on spindles carried between three sets of angularly spaced reel arms 22. Corresponding reel arms 24 aligned with the reel arms 22 are provided so as to journal the roll spindles. The paper is accordingly withdrawn from one of the rolls for continuous movement at a linear web speed which may be controlled through a press speed controller box 26 mounted on the frame 12. Tension is maintained on the web 28 being withdrawn from the roll by means of a plurality of tension strap assemblies 30, each strap assembly being anchored at a lower end, with the tension being adjusted by means of drum element 32 to which the upper ends of the strap assemblies are connected, the drum elements being angularly displaced by means of the control shaft 34 inorder to adjust the tension.

Also mounted on the frame 12, are the control devices usually available so as to enable the operator to manually control the pasting operation when it becomes necessary to'replace an expiring roll 36 by a new and full roll 38 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. A motor control box 40 is therefore mounted on the frame 12 as shown in FIGURE 2 by means of which the operator may energize the reel motor 16 for forward rotation in order to bring the reel to a position from which the pasting operation may be initiated. However, before the pasting operation is initiated, the linear speed of the web must be changed in order to accommodate the pasting operation, this usually being effected by depression of the speed regulating switch button 42 mounted on the frame 12 below the speed controller 26. The speed controller also includes a speed holder switch usually actuated so as to prevent the speed of the web from being accelerated from some preset value to which it is reduced by actuation of the speed regulating switch 42. The tension imposed on the web will also be regulated so that when the reel is advanced to an initial position through the'motor controller 40, a cutter 46 diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 3, may be extended from a retracted position to an operatingposition in preparation for cut off of the tail end portion from the expiring roll after a paste has been made. As the cutter is brought to its operating position, the reel automatically rotates to its pasting position at which time preset tension is applied through the tension belt assemblies 30, the tension control 48 diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 3 at the same time raising the floating roller 50 in order to permit the lead end portion 52 from the new roll 38 to be accelerated. Accordingly, when the speed of the new roll 38 approaches that of the expiring roll 36, the floating roller 50 is moved downwardly into engagement with the web. At this time, the paster switch 54 on the frame 12 as shown in FIG- URE 2, may be actuated in order to initiate the pasting operation. As a result thereof, a spray applying device 56 as diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 3, applies ad- "hesive to the sheet material being withdrawn from the new roll 38 in the pasting position so that it may adhere to the sheet material being withdrawn from the expiring roll 36. Thereafter, the cutter in its operating position is actuated in order to sever the tail end portion 58 of the expiring roll from the continuously moving web now being withdrawn from the new roll 38. The new roll may then be angularly displaced into the new running position of the reel after the cutter device 46 has been retracted by actuation of the forward control button of the motor controller 40. Also, the paster switch 54 may be actuated to its off position and the normal speed for the web resumed through control exercised thereover via the speed controller 26.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of existing control facilities associated with present paster apparatus, that a considerable number of control actions are required on the part of the operator as well as his exercise of judgment in gauging the depletion of the expiring roll, the acceleration of the lead end portion of the new roll to a speed at which the pasting operation may be initiated as well as the timely actuation of the speed control switches 42 and 44, the paster switch 54 and actuation of the forward motor switch in order to advance the reel from an old running position to a new running position. As schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1, the aforementioned paster equipment generally referred to by eference numeral 60 is under control of the actuatable switches aforementioned mounted on the control panel 62, this paster equipment including the adhesive applying device 56 and the cutter device 46. Operation of the paster equipment while initiated by the switches forming the control panel, is timed by means of the paster operating relay component 64 associated with the paster equipment, the component 64 being influenced by the tension control 66 and an electronic tail-measuring component 68. However, in accordance with the present invention, an automatic control head 70 is wired to all of the components 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 in order to eliminate actuation of the switches at the control panel by an operator. The control head 70 may therefore be mounted at any suitable location such as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The automatic control head is hence also 7 suitably wired to the aforementioned components of the existing paster machine which is also modified in accordance with the automatic operations to be performed.

Referring therefore to FIGURES 4-8, it will be observed that the reel drive shaft 18 extends through a collar assembly 72 secured to the lower end of a fixed bracket arm 74, the bracket arm being disposed in close spaced adjacency'to the reel arms 24. Mounted on the bracket arm 74, is a contact plate 76 by means of which electrical connections are made by the brush contact assembly 78 to photocell devices 88, 92 mounted on the radial end portions 80 of each of the reel arms 24. The radial end portion 80 of the reel arm receives one axial end of the spindle 82 on which the core-84 of the roll is mounted. Recessed in the flange 86 secured to the end portion 80 of the reel arm, is the photocell device 88 secured in a radial position by the holding element 90 and adapted to be uncovered in order to establish a detecting signal when the roll is depleted to a minimum diameter. Another photocell device 92 is also mounted on the end portion 80 and held'in place by the holder'94 for the purpose of preventing any pasting operation should the roll be insufficiently depleted as will be hereafter explained. Electrical conductors accordingly extend from the photocell devices 88 and 92 along the reel arm to the hub'portion of the reel so that they may be electrically connected through the contact assembly 78 to the automatic control head 70 fixedly mounted on the machine frame.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, it will be noted that the circuitry within the automatic control head 70 shown in FIGURE 9, is electrically connected to the existing control components associated with the paster machine as shown in FIGURE 10. The automatic control head is accordingly connected to the speed controller 26 in bypass relation to the speed regulating switch 42 in order to reduce the speed of the press to a preset value for the pasting operation. Accordingly, a speed regulator component 96 is associated with the speed controller for this purpose in addition to the press speed holder compomm 98 actuated so as to prevent acceleration of the press from the preset value. The automatic control head is therefore connected to the press speed holder component 98 bypass relation to the'switch 44 aforementioned. Also, the forward control switch 100 associated with the reel motor-control 40 is bypassed by the automatic control head. The tension is varied on the web when the reel is advanced toward the pasting position by the tension control component 102 normally energized by. a 40-v olt source upon closing of the tension control switch 104. In addition to the switches 42, 44 and 100 mounted on the control panel, the paster operating relay component 64 which the automatic control head exercises control over the pasting operation. The electronic tail-measuring timer component 68 is also connected to the relay circuits and the spray head control 112 and is arranged during its operation to charge a storage capacitor (not shown) through its transformer 118 in order to supply energizing relay voltage as will be hereafter explained. The timer component 68 is part of the existing equipment associated with paster machines and is operative to measure the speed of a new roll for timely actuation of the spray head control and the cutter control after a time delay proportional to the speed of the new roll so as to maintain constant tail length regardless of the work speed of the press. The spray head control turns on the adhesive-applying spray as aforementioned. The cutter control is operative through the relay circuits 110 to initiate operation of the tailmeasuring timer 68 when the cutter device has been extended to its operating position this being effected through the relay circuits 110 upon initial advancement of the reel to a starting position. The cutter control is also operative after cut off of the tail end portion of the expiring roll, to retract the cutter device to its out-of-the-way retracted position. When the cutter control is operative to complete extension of the cutter device to its operating position, a voltage connection is made available through terminal 128 to the automatic control head 70. Upon actuation of the cutter device, the 240 v. A.C. supply for operation thereof is made available through the cutter control to the terminals 122 and 124 wired to the automatic control head.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, it will be observed that the photosensing device 88 is electrically connected through its contact assembly 78 between the grid 126 and the cathode 128 of a push-pull amplifier tube 130. The photocell device 88 will therefore vary in resistance in order to correspondingly change the grid-cathode circuit including the cathode grid 132 in series with the photocell device and the capacitor 134 in parallel therewith. A negative bias voltage is supplied to the grid from the secondary 134 of transformer 136 through the rectifier diode 138 and the grid bias resistor 140. The primary 142 of the transformer is connected to the powerline 144 and to the powerline 146 upon closing of the automatic control switch 148 associated with the automatic control head. The secondary windings 134 of the transformer are therefore also connected to the heater element 150 of the amplifier tube which is also provided with output plates 152 and 154 as well as with a second cathode element 156. The amplifier tube may be held in a nonconducting state when the resistance of the photocell device 88 in the cathode grid circuit is maximum by means of the potentiometer 158 establishing a potential difierence between the cathode 156 and the plate 152 through the load resistor 160. The plate 152 is also maintained at the proper potential difierence relative to the grid by means of the resistor 162 interconnected between the plate 152' and the grid. When the photocell device 88 is uncovered its resistance drops sharply producing an amplified fiow of unbalancing current between the plates 152 and 154 through the load resistor 160 and the heater element 164 of the starting relay 166. Upon energization of the relay 166, the contacts 168 close so as to supply positive voltage from the transformer secondary 134 through the coupling resistor 170 and diode rectifier 172 in series with the heater element 174 of a timing relay 178 and the potentiometer 180. Prior to closing of the switch contacts 168, the positive rectified voltage will charge the capacitor 182 through the potentiometer 184 holding the heater element 174 at a value insufiicient to energize the relay 178. Upon closing of the relay switch contacts 168 however, the positive voltage supplied to the plate circuit of the amplifier tube 130 will stabilize it in a conductive state while discharge of the capacitor 182 will delay energization of the relay 178.

The timing relay 178 therefore is energized after a predetermined delay interval following energization of the relay 166, energization of the relay 166 being operative to close the relay contacts 186 in order to bypass the speed regulating switch 42 through terminals 188 and 198. The speed of the web is thereby reduced to a preset value prior to energization of the relay 178. When the relay 178 is energized, after the aforementioned delay period, its switch contacts 192 close so as to establish an energizing circuit for the relay 194 from the 40-volt source which is also connected to the tension control through the terminals 196 and 198. Energization of the relay 194 is operative to close the relay switch 200 in order to establish energizing circuits for the operating relays 202 and 204 from the 40-volt source. At the same time, the relay switch 206 closes in order to actuate the press speed holder 98 following actuation of the speed regulator 96 through terminals 208 and 210 bypassing the switch 44. The speed of the web is thereby conditioned for paster operation.

When the operating relays 202 and 204 are energized, relay switches 212, 214, 216, and 218 close in order to establish connections to the relay circuits through terminals 220, 222, 224, 226, 228 and 230, bypassing the paster switch 54. Power from the A.C. source is thereby supplied to the relay circuits 110 in order to initiate the paster operation. At the same time, the forward motor switch 100 is bypassed by closing of the relay switch 216 connected to the reel motor control 40 through the terminals 232 and 234. The reel is thereby advanced toward an initial starting position resulting in the extension of the cutter device to its operating position.

When the cutter reaches its operating position, a voltage connection is established to the terminal 121 as aforementioned so as to complete an energizing circuit through the automatic switch 148'and the heater element 236 of relay 238. The contacts 240 of the relay thereby close so as to establish an electrical connection from the tail-measuring timer 68 through terminal 242 to the spray head control 112 through terminal 244. This electrical connection is made however through the heater element 246 in series with the photocell device 92. The timer component 68 is thereby operative to discharge the voltage stored in the capacitor through diode 116 at the proper moment causing energization of the relay 248 through its heater element 246 closing the relay contacts 250. When the relay contacts 250 close, an energizing circuit is completed in the spray head control through terminal 252 in order to effect application of the adhesive to the lead end portion of the new roll. The foregoing action is accordingly initiated by the timer component 68 when the reel has been advanced by the reel motor to the pasting position. It will be apparent, that since the photocell device 92 is in series with the heater element 246 of the relay 248, the relay will not be energized to operate the adhesive applying device if the expiring roll has not been sufiiciently depleted. Also, operation of the adhesive applying device is timed through the timer component 68. Thus, the energization of the relay 248 is delayed sufficiently to permit the new roll to accelerate to the speed of the web being withdrawn from the expiring roll. After the paste has been made, the cutter is operative to cut off the tail end portion of the expiring roll and the cutter device retracted.

At the instant that the cutter is rendered operative to cut off the tail end portion of the expiring roll, 240 volts of A.C. current is supplied from the cutter control to the terminals 122 and 124 as aforementioned in order to energize the relay 254. Upon energization of the relay 254, the relay switch 256 closes in order to establish a holding circuit for the operating relays 202 and 204 bypassing the relay switch 200associated with the relay 194. Thus, when the reel is advance-d to the pasting position, the contact assembly 78 opens so as to render the amplifier tube nonconductive and causing the relay 166 to deenergize. The speed regulator 96 is then released through the relay contacts 186 presetting the reduced web speed while the relay contacts 168 open so as to etfect release of the relay 178 after a timed release period during which the capacitor 182 is charged by current conducted through the relay heater element 174. The pasting: operation occurs during this release period so that upon completion, the relay contacts 192 open in order to deenergize relay 194 opening the relay contacts 200 and 206. The press speed holder 98 is then released so that the web may resume its normal speed. The operating relays 292 and 204 remain energized however, because of the closing of the holding circuit by the relay switch 256- associated with the relay 254. When the cutter device is fully retracted, the energizing voltage supplied to the terminals 122 and 124 is removed so as to cause de-energization of the relay 254 and hence de-energization of the operating relays 202 and 204. The power connection to the paster equipment is thereby opened and the forward motor control released as the reel assumes its new running position with electrical connections'to the head 70 being reestablished by the brush assembly 78 on the reel arm associated with the new roll. The paster apparatus will then be in condition for a new pasting cycle when the new roll becomes depleted.

From the foregoing description, the operation and installation of the automatic control system of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that the system of the present invention will render operation of the paster apparatus fully automatic whereas heretofore it required numerous control actions on the part of the operator as well as the operators supervision and judgment. The foregoing automation is achieved in a novel manner involving little modification of the paster apparatus. More specifically, the automatic control system involves the mounting of an automatic control head, its wiring to the various selectively controlled components of the paster apparatus and the mounting of photocell devices on the reel arms electricalyy connected to the automatic control head through brush contact assemblies.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a paster apparatus for a plurality of rolls of web mounted on a reel from which a continuous web is withdrawn having selective energizing means for sequentially applying adhesive to a lead end of a full roll positioned by the reel in a pastingposition and rotating at the speed of the expiring roll and cutting off a tail end from the expiring roll after being secured to the lead end of the full roll, automatic control means comprising, sensing means responsive to reduction in diameter of said expiring roll below a predetermined dimension for energizing a reel motor to initiate angular movement of the reel, delayed operating means energized after elapse of a predetermined interval following said movement of the reel to the pasting position for bypassing said selective energizing means to effect sequential operation of the paster apparatus, and holding means responsive to completion of said sequential operation for de-energizing the paster apparatus and positioning the reel for normal withdrawal of the web from the full roll.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the paster apparatus includes web sensing control means engaging the web being withdrawn from the expiring roll with the full roll in the pasting position of the reel to regulate the speed of the full roll, and means for preventing operation of the paster apparatus on a roll in the pasting position 8 V having a diameter exceeding said predetermined dimension.

3. In combination with a paster apparatus for a plurality of rolls of web mounted on a reel from which a continuous web is withdrawn having selective energizing means for sequentially applying adhesive to a lead end of a full roll positioned by the reel in a pasting position and rotating at the speed of the expiring roll andcutting off a tail end from the expiring roll after being secured to the lead end of the full roll, automatic control means comprising, sensing means responsive to reduction in diameter of said expiring roll below a predetermined dimension for energizing a reel motor to initiate angular movement of the reel, delayed operating means energized after elapse of a predetermined interval following said movement of the reel for bypassing said selective energizing means when the reel is in the pasting position to effect sequential operation of the paster apparatus, means responsive to completion of said sequential operation for deenergizing the paster apparatus and positioning the reel for normal withdrawal of the web from the full roll, web tensioning control means engaging the web being withdrawn from the expiring roll with the full roll in the pasting position of the reel to regulate the speed of the full roll, and means for preventing operation of the paster apparatus on a roll in the pasting position having a diameter exceeding said predetermined dimension, said sensing means comprising a photocell device mounted on the reel, starting relay means operatively connected to the reel motor for energization thereof, amplifier means operatively connected to the starting relay means for stabilized supply of current thereto upon energization of the relay means, and contact means operatively connecting the photocell device to the amplifier means in an operating position of the reel for energizing the relay means, said reel being displaced from the operating position toward the pasting position by the reel motor when energized. 1

4;. In combination with a paster apparatus for a plurality of rolls of web mounted on a reel from which a continuous web is withdrawn having selective energizing means for sequentially applying adhesive to a lead end of a full roll positioned by the reel in a pasting position and rotating at the speed of the expiring roll and cutting off a tail end from the expiring roll after being secured to the lead end of the full roll, automatic control means comprising, sensing means responsive to reduction in diameter of said expiring roll below a predetermined dimension for energizing a reel motor to initiate angular movement of the reel, delayed operating means energized after elapse of a predetermined interval following said movement of the reel for bypassing said selective energizing means when the reel is in the pasting position to effect sequential operation of the paster apparatus and means responsive to completion of said sequential operation for deenergizing the paster apparatus and positioning the reel for normal withdrawal of the web from the full roll, said paster apparatus including adhesive applying means tail end measuring timer means and cutter means, and operational preventing means interconnectig the adhesive applying means and the tail end measuring timer means, said completion responsive means being rendered operative upon retraction of the cutter means for preventing operation of the paster apparatus on a roll in the pasting position having a diameter exceeding said predetermined dimension.

5. In combination with a paster apparatus for a plurality of rolls of web mounted on a reel from which a continuous web is withdrawn having selective energizing means for sequentially applying adhesive to a lead end of a full roll positioned by the reel in a pasting position and rotating at the speed of the expiring roll and cutting off a tail end from the expiring roll after being secured to the lead end of the full roll, automatic control means comprising, sensing means responsive to reduction in diameter of said expiring roll below a predetermined dimension for energizing a reel motor to initiate angular movement of the reel, delayed operating means energized after elapse of a predetermined interval following said movement of the reel for bypassing said selective energizing means when the reel is in the pasting position to eifect sequential operation of the paster apparatus and means responsive to completion of said sequential operation for deenergizing the paster apparatus and positioning the reel for normal withdrawal of the Web from the full roll, said sensing means comprising a photocell device mounted on the reel, starting relay means operatively connected to the reel motor for energization thereof, amplifier means operatively connected to the starting relay means for stabilized supply of current thereto upon energization of the relay means, and contact means operatively connecting the photocell device to the amplifier means in an operating position of the reel for energizing the relay means, said reel being displaced from the operating position toward the pasting position by the reel motor when energized.

6. T he combination of claim wherein said delayed operating means includes a relay assembly operatively connected to the starting relay means for initial energization, and holding circuit means for maintaining said relay assembly energized when the reel is in the pasting position opening the contact means, said holding circuit means being connected to the completion responsive means for opening thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said paster apparatus includes adhesive applying means, tail end measuring timer means and cutter means, said operational preventing means interconnecting the adhesive applying means and the tail end measuring timer means, said completion responsive means being rendered operative upon retraction of the cutter means.

8. In combination with a paster apparatus for a plurality of rolls of web mounted on a reel from which a continuous web is withdraw having selective energizing means for sequentially applying adhesive to a lead end of a full roll positioned by the reel in a pasting position and rotating at the speed of the expiring roll and cutting off a tail end from the expiring roll after being secured to the lead end of the full roll, automatic control means comprising sensing means responsive to reduction in diameter of said expiring roll below a predetermined dimension for energizing a reel motor to initiate angular movement of the reel, delayed operating means energized after elapse of a predetermined interval following said movement of the reel for bypassing said selective energizing means when the reel is in the pasting position to etfect sequential operation of the paster apparatus and means responsive to completion of said sequential operation for deenergizing the paster apparatus and positioning the reel for normal withdrawal of the web from the full roll, said delayed operating means including a relay assembly operatively connected to the starting relay means for initial energization, and holding circuit means for maintaining said relay assembly energized when the reel is in the pasting position, said holding circuit means being connected to the completion responsive means for opening thereof.

9. In combination with a paster apparatus having a reel motor, a tension control, a speed control, a retractable cutter device, a tail-measuring timer and an adhesive applying device controlled thereby for securing the tail end of an expiring roll to the lead end of a full roll, an automatic control system comprising, a photosensing device for detecting an expiring roll, an amplifier for producing an energizing current in response to a detecting signal from the photosensing device, contact means connecting the photosensing device to the amplifier until the reel motor has displaced the expired roll by a predetermined amount, a starting relay connected to the amplifier for energization by said energizing current, means responsive to the energization of the starting relay for operating the speed control and stabilizing operation of the amplifier, relay means energized in delayed response to said energization of the starting relay for energizing the reel motor, the tension control, the speed control and the cutter device for extension thereof from a retracted position, means responsive to extension of the cutter device for initiating operation of the tail-measuring timer, a holding circuit connected to said relay means for maintaining energization thereof after the starting relay is de-energized and the speed control disabled following operation of the adhesive applying device, and means responsive to retraction of the cutter device for opening the holding circuit to de-energize the relay means.

It). In a web splicing apparatus having a reel displaceable between a running position and a pasting position and pasting means for interconnecting the webs from expiring and reserve rolls carried by said reel in the pasting position thereof, means mounted on the reel for sensmg approaching depletion of said expiring roll, speed regulating means responsive to said sensing means for reducing the web speed of the expiring roll upon sensing of said approaching depletion thereof, timing means operatively connected to the sensing means for terminating said reduction in web speed by the speed regulating means after elapse of a preset delay period, and advancing means operatively connected to the timing means and the reel for displacing the reel to the pasting position following said delay period.

11. The combination of claim 10 including means for delaying operation of the pasting means after said advancement of the reel to the pasting position to permit acceleration in web speed of the reserve roll to the reduced web speed of the expiring roll.

12. The combination of claim 11 including means for varying the tension of the web after elapse of said preset period.

13. In combination with a reel carrying an expiring roll and a reserve roll and machanism for splicing the webs withdrawn from said rolls, control means connected to said mechanism and rendered operative to automatically exeoute a splicing operation, sensing means mounted on said reel for establishing a signal in response to approaching depletion of the expiring roll, motor means connected to the reel for advancement thereof to a position in which the control means is rendered operative, timing means responsive to said signal for energizing the motor means after elapse of a speed regulating interval, means connected to said sensing means for reducing the web speed of the expiring roll only during the speed regulating interval established by the timing means, delay means connected to the control means for delaying execution of said splicing operation by the mechanism when the reel is in said position, and holding means rendered operative during advancement of the reel by the motor means to reset the control means upon termination of the splicing operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,100,604 8/1963 Degutis et al. 24258.3 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. L. D. CHRISTIAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PASTER APPARATUS FOR A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF WEB MOUNTED ON A REEL FROM WHICH A CONTINUOUS WEB IS WITHDRAWN HAVING SELECTIVE ENERGIZING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIALLY APPLYING ADHESIVE TO A LEAD END OF A FULL ROLL POSITIONED BY THE REEL IN A PASTING POSITION AND ROTATING AT THE SPEED OF THE EXPIRING ROLL AND CUTTING OFF A TAIL END FROM THE EXPIRING ROLL AFTER BEING SECURED TO THE LEAD END OF THE FULL ROLL, AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING, SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO REDUCTION IN DIAMETER OF SAID EXPIRING ROLL BELOW A PREDETERMINED DIMENSION FOR ENERGIZING A REEL MOTOR TO INTITATE ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE REEL, DELAYED OPERATING MEANS ENERGIZED AFTER ELAPSE OF A PREDETERMINED INTERVAL FOLLOWING SAID MOVEMENT OF THE REEL TO THE PASTING POSITION FOR BYPASSING SAID SELECTIVE ENERGIZING MEANS TO EFFECT SEQUENTIAL OPERATION OF THE PASTER APPARATUS, AND HOLDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO COMPLETION OF SAID SEQUENTIAL OPERATION FOR 